13th October 2020
business events news business events news Today’s issue of BEN Business Events News today has two pages of news.
cievents rebrand THE rebranding of Flight Centre’s cievents operation as FCM Meetings & Events (BEN breaking news) will “combine the unique expertise of cievents with FCM’s market-leading technology and extensive world-wide network,” the company promised last week. The disappearance of the cievents name marks the end of a 30-year era in the MICE market, and will also see the organisation’s long-time Global General Manager Natalie Simmons leave the brand this Fri. “We’ve taken the opportunity during this time to reflect on our business and make the changes we believe will provide our customers with an enhanced offering to fit the new meetings and events landscape,” according to a statement from Flight Centre. “So while our name will change from cievents to FCM Meetings & Events, many of the people and teams you know and trust remain,” with the company saying it was “business as usual” during the transition. A new leader for the business will be announced in the coming weeks.
businesseventsnews.com.au
UNCERTAINTY KEY WORRY A NEW survey conducted by the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) has found that the key barrier being faced by both owners and organisers of business events in 2021 is uncertainty regarding future outbreaks of COVID-19, and the corresponding tightening of travel and gathering restrictions. The poll also found significant misgivings around financial risk, which is “translating into Boards and decision-makers being hesitant to commit to holding an in-person business event”. Despite hopes of green shoots of recovery, other findings were that the majority of business events previously scheduled for the first three months of
2021 had already cancelled, postponed, or shifted to a 100% virtual format. The study was conducted in the light of the $50 million commitment to the business events sector by the Federal Government, with the grant scheme (BEN 15 Sep) confirmed in last week’s Budget. The lack of confidence was reflected right across to the end of 2021, with less than half of business event organisers expecting that events will be back to their traditional inperson format during the OctDec quarter of next year. The survey attracted 149 responses from BECA members and stakeholders including organisers and owners/hosts.
MEA mentors
MCEC top employer
MEETINGS and Events Australia (MEA) has launched its 2020/21 MEA Mentor Program, with the ongoing support of Tourism Australia. The national program will bring event professionals together from across the country to connect, share and assist in skills development and career progression. Mentees must be MEA members (either corporate or individual), and anyone interested in participating as either a mentor or mentee can send an email to admin@mea.org.au for further info on the program which runs Oct-Mar.
THE Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has been recognised as an Employer of Choice for the fourth year running in the Australian Business Awards.
EEAA nominations THE Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) is calling for nominations to recognise the unsung heroes and young talent of the industry. The 2020 EEAA Awards for Excellence will this year be condensed into just two categories, the Richard Geddes Young Achiever Award & Scholarship, and the Unsung Hero Award, in light of the extraordinary COVID-19 circumstances. EEAA CEO Claudia Sagripanti said the awards would recognise individuals who had innovated, shown resilience, remained optimistic and garnered business confidence. The EAAA has partnered with ICC Sydney to host its AGM followed by an end of year reception on 08 Dec, where the awards will be presented in a hybrid huband spoke format - for the entry kit CLICK HERE.
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